Cats

Cats, a hugely successful musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, debuted in London in 1981. By the the time it closed 21 years later it had been performed nearly 9,000 times. Based on TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Cats has grossed more than £1bn worldwide.

Starlight Express

Starlight Express, Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller skating rock romp, racked up 7,406 shows at London's Apollo Victoria theatre from 1984 to 2002. With lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and choreography by Arlene Phillips, it has grossed an estimated three quarters of a billion at the box office.

Les Misérables

Despite being damned by some critics when it opened at London's Barbican in 1985, Les Misérables, a production of Victor Hugo's tale by Cameron Mackintosh set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, has been performed more than 11,600 times in London alone. It is currently showing at London's Queen's theatre.

Blood Brothers

In 2012, after a 24-year run in the West End, the final curtain came down on Blood Brothers, Willy Russell's boisterous show about twins brought up on either side of the class divide.

Miss Saigon

The original production of Miss Saigon debuted on the London stage in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1989, and enjoyed a 10-year run. The story of an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman in 1975, during the final days of US occupation, has been seen by an estimated 35 million people worldwide.

Phantom of the Opera

Set in the bowels of the Paris Opera House, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera has been showing at Her Majesty's theatre in London's West End for the last 28 years. The total worldwide gross for the show is now £3.4bn.

Buddy

Buddy, a show based on life and career of early rock'n'roller Buddy Holly, had theatregoers singing in the aisles at more than 5,800 London shows.

Billy Elliot

Dazzling … Billy Elliot the Musical. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

With music by Elton John, and set against the background of the 1984-85 miners' strike, Billy Elliot has been dazzling London's theatregoers since 2005. It has been seen by 9.5 million people worldwide.

Mamma Mia!

The unmistakable sounds of Swedish pop group Abba are stamped all over Mamma Mia!, a fast-paced musical that enjoyed a run of more than 12 years in London alone.

Matilda the Musical

Based on Roald Dahl's much-loved children's book, Matilda the Musical had a 2010 trial run in Stratford-upon-Avon before bursting onto the West End stage in 2011 in London's Cambridge theatre. It has revelled in audience and critical praise since.

• This article was amended on 12 March 2014. An earlier version said that Billy Elliot has been seen by 8 million people worldwide rather than 9.5 million. Our figure of 8 million was taken from the show's own website.